Personal Injury Blog

Risk of Drowsy Driving Accidents Increases Due to End of Daylight Savings Time

November 5th, 2011
Drowsy Driving Accidents

Drowsy driving is a major and underestimated factor in accidents

Across California and the rest of the country, alarm clocks will be pushed back an hour as daylight savings time ends.  This means that more driving will take place in the dark, and Los Angeles car accident lawyers believe that this will likely increase the risk of drowsy driving accidents.

According to the National Road Safety Foundation, the daylight savings time change can also leave motorists feeling disoriented, and increase the risks of a crash.  Across the country, drowsy driving is a major and underestimated factor in accidents.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, every year, drowsy driving results in at least 1,500 accidents.  These accidents lead to 71,000 injuries and cause $12.5 billion in financial losses.

According to one study, more than 60% of American workers admit to having driven while drowsy.  Further, 37% admitted to actually having dozed off at the wheel while driving.  In fact, drowsy driving is much more common than people believe.  But because it is harder to measure and identify than, say, intoxicated driving, it continues to be under the radar as a major factor in auto accidents.

Most drowsy driving-related accidents occur when a car being driven by a tired driver veers off the roadway and crashes into another car, or a stationary object.  A person who dozes off even for a few seconds while driving at highway speeds can be at risk of a crash.  Many safety experts contend that drowsy driving is as dangerous as intoxicated driving.

Some categories of drivers are more likely to be involved in drowsy driving-related accidents than others.  For instance, teenage drivers are at a high risk of being involved in a drowsy driving-related accident.  That’s because, teenagers tend to stay out late and get lesser sleep than other groups of drivers.  Teenagers are also likely to resist sleep even though they require more sleep than adults.

Next week, the National Sleep Foundation will mark Drowsy Driving Prevention Week in order to increase awareness about the dangers of driving while fatigued.  The campaign is being kicked off during this time in order to coincide with the end of daylight savings time.  Many motorists fail to understand when they’re too tired to drive, and insist on driving anyway.  In far too many cases, such behavior ends in accidents

The National Sleep Foundation says that motorists who are driving while tired must look out for the following signs of drowsiness:

  • Difficulty focusing
  • Frequent daydreams while driving
  • Drifting from the lane
  • Tailgating
  • Missing traffic signs
  • Frequent yawning

In order to avoid an accident while fatigued, have a good night’s sleep before you begin driving.  Avoid driving alone on a long journey, and take a friend along.  Coffee can help keep sleep away.  Never drive under the influence of alcohol, and avoid driving after taking medications that make you sleepy, like cough and cold medications.

 

 

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